Medical visualization method, combined display/input device, and computer program product

Abstract

In a medical visualization method, wherein: a series of organ slice images are acquired at different points in time by an imaging modality; the acquired organ slice images are stored in an image data memory with information about the series and/or the point in time of the acquisition. A data connection between an input/output device and the image data memory is established and the available series are determined. Series that are specific to the organ are symbolically represented with a display of the availability thereof. The organ slice images associated with a selected series are displayed. An input/output device as well as a computer program product operates according to the method.

1. A method for visualizing medical images of an organ for which a plurality of image series of the organ are commonly acquired, as commonly-acquired image series, said method comprising:
 operating an imaging system to acquire multiple series of organ slice images of said organ, with each slice image in each slice series being acquired at a different point in time, with at least some of said multiple series respectively corresponding to at least some of said commonly-acquired image series; 
 storing and sorting said slice images of said organ in a memory and associating information in said memory with each slice image therein, and selecting said information from the group consisting of a designation of the point in time at which the slice image associated with the information was acquired, and a designation of the series, among said multiple series, of which the slice image associated with the information is a member; 
 establishing a data connection between an input/output device and said memory; 
 via said input/output device, making a pre-selection from among said plurality of commonly-acquired image series, as a pre-selected series; 
 via said input/output device, automatically determining which of said commonly-acquired image series is currently available for display at said input/output device, due to (1) being among the multiple series in said memory, and (2) being able to be correctly transmitted to the input/output device from the memory via the data connection, with all of said commonly-acquired series that satisfy (1) and (2) being determined by said input/output device as being an available series, and any of said commonly-acquired series for which either (1) or (2) is not satisfied being determined by said input/output device as an unavailable series; 
 when said pre-selected series is among said available series, displaying the pre-selected series at a display screen of said input/output device together with others among said available series, and together with a representation of each commonly-acquired series that is an unavailable series, each of said pre-selected series and said others of said available series, and each representation of an unavailable series, being shown at said display screen with a symbolism having a symbolism characteristic that can have a plurality of different visual appearances; 
 showing said pre-selected series and said others of said available series at said display screen, as active series, with said symbolism having a first of said different visual appearances; 
 showing any of said representations of unavailable series at said display screen with said symbolism having a second of said different visual appearances when the commercially-acquired series indicated by the representation thereof is unavailable due to not satisfying (1); and 
 showing any of said representations of unavailable series at said display screen with said symbolism having a third of said different visual appearances when the commonly-acquired series indicated by the representation thereof is unavailable due to not satisfying (2). 
 
     
     
       2. A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising selecting said symbolism from the group consisting of color codes, patterns and alpha-numeric characters. 
     
     
       3. A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said symbolism is a first symbolism and wherein said pre-selected series is a currently selected series, and comprising, at said display screen, showing any of said active series and any of said representations of unavailable series, that was previously selected as a pre-selected series prior to said currently selected series, with a second symbolism that has a symbolism characteristic that can have a plurality of different visual appearances. 
     
     
       4. A method as claimed in  claim 3  comprising selecting said second symbolism from the group consisting of color codes, patterns and alpha-numeric characters. 
     
     
       5. A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising indicating said preselected series at said display screen with a marker, that is different from said symbolism. 
     
     
       6. A method as claimed in  claim 5  comprising selecting said marker from the group consisting of a colored corner, a colored point, and a colored border. 
     
     
       7. A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising generating an electronic file for the multiple series of organ slice images, and storing, in a header of said electronic file, header information including a designation of said symbolism. 
     
     
       8. A computerized device for visualizing medical images, comprising:
 a memory containing slice images of an organ acquired from an imaging modality in multiple series, with each slice image in each slice series being acquired at a different point in time, with at least some of said multiple series respectively corresponding to at least some of said commonly-acquired image series; 
 said slice images of said organ in said memory being associated with information in said memory, said information being selected from the group consisting of a designation of the point in time at which the slice image associated with the information was acquired, and a designation of the series, among said multiple series, of which the slice image associated with the information is a member; 
 an input/output device comprising a display screen; 
 a data connection between said input/output device and said memory; 
 said input/output device being configured to allow a user to make a pre-selection from among said plurality of commonly-acquired image series, as a pre-selected series; 
 said input/output device being configured to automatically determine which of said commonly-acquired image series is currently available for display at said input/output device, due to (1) being among the multiple series in said memory, and (2) being able to be correctly transmitted to the input/output device from the memory via the data connection, with all of said commonly-acquired series that satisfy (1) and (2) being determined by said input/output device as being an available series, and any of said commonly-acquired series for which either (1) or (2) is not satisfied being determined by said input/output device as an unavailable series; 
 when said pre-selected series is among said available series, said input/output device being configured to display the pre-selected series at said display screen together with others among said available series, and together with a representation of each commonly-acquired series that is an unavailable series, each of said pre-selected series and said others of said available series, and each representation of an unavailable series, being shown at said display screen with a symbolism having a symbolism characteristic that can have a plurality of different visual appearances; 
 said input/output device being configured to show said pre-selected series and said others of said available series at said display screen, as active series, with said symbolism having a first of said different visual appearances; 
 said input/output device being configured to show any of said representations of unavailable series at said display screen with said symbolism having a second of said different visual appearances when the commercially-acquired series indicated by the representation thereof is unavailable due to not satisfying (1); and 
 said input/output device being configured to show any of said representations of unavailable series at said display screen with said symbolism having a third of said different visual appearances when the commonly-acquired series indicated by the representation thereof is unavailable due to not satisfying (2). 
 
     
     
       9. A computerized device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said input/output device is configured to use, as said symbolism, a symbolism selected from the group consisting of color codes, patterns and alpha-numeric characters. 
     
     
       10. A computerized device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said symbolism is a first symbolism and wherein said pre-selected series is a currently selected series, and wherein said input/output device is configured to show, at said display screen, any of said active series and any of said representations of unavailable series, that was previously selected as a pre-selected series prior to said currently selected series, with a second symbolism that has a symbolism characteristic that can have a plurality of different visual appearances. 
     
     
       11. A computerized device as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said input/out device is configured to use, as said second symbolism, a symbolism selected from the group consisting of color codes, patterns and alpha-numeric characters. 
     
     
       12. A computerized device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said input/output device is configured to indicate said preselected series at said display screen with a marker, that is different from said symbolism. 
     
     
       13. A computerized device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said input/output device is configured to use, as said marker, a marker selected from the group consisting of a colored corner, a colored point, and a colored border. 
     
     
       14. A computerized device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said input/output device is configured to generate an electronic file for the multiple series of organ slice images, and to store header information, in a header of said electronic file, including a designation of said symbolism. 
     
     
       15. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium encoded with programming instructions for visualizing medical images of an organ, for which a plurality of image series of the organ are commonly acquired, as commonly-acquired images series, said storage medium being loadable into an input/output device of an imaging system that includes an imaging modality that acquires multiple slices of organ slice images of said organ, with each slice image in each slice series being acquired at a different point in time, at least some of said multiple series respectively corresponding to at least some of said commonly-acquired image series, and that includes a memory in which said slice images of said organ are sorted and stored and respectively associated with information in said memory, said information being selected from the group consisting of a designation of the point in time at which the slice image associated with the information was acquired, and a designation of the series, among said multiple series, of which the slice image associated with the information is a member, said programming instructions causing said input/output device to:
 establish a data connection between an input/output device and said memory; 
 via said input/output device, make a pre-selection from among said plurality of commonly-acquired image series, as a pre-selected series; 
 via said input/output device, automatically determine which of said commonly-acquired image series is currently available for display at said input/output device, due to (1) being among the multiple series in said memory, and (2) being able to be correctly transmitted to the input/output device from the memory via the data connection, with all of said commonly-acquired series that satisfy (1) and (2) being determined by said input/output device as being an available series, and any of said commonly-acquired series for which either (1) or (2) is not satisfied being determined by said input/output device as an unavailable series; 
 when said pre-selected series is among said available series, display the pre-selected series at a display screen of said input/output device together with others among said available series, and together with a representation of each commonly-acquired series that is an unavailable series, and to cause each of said pre-selected series and said others of said available series, and each representation of an unavailable series, to be shown at said display screen with a symbolism having a symbolism characteristic that can have a plurality of different visual appearances; 
 show said pre-selected series and said others of said available series at said display screen, as active series, with said symbolism having a first of said different visual appearances; 
 show any of said representations of unavailable series at said display screen with said symbolism having a second of said different visual appearances when the commercially-acquired series indicated by the representation thereof is unavailable due to not satisfying (1); and 
 show any of said representations of unavailable series at said display screen with said symbolism having a third of said different visual appearances when the commonly-acquired series indicated by the representation thereof is unavailable due to not satisfying (2).